Published: Monday, April 8, 2013 at 6:28 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 8, 2013 at 6:28 p.m.

Saturday April 6 at 100th birthday party for Elijah Davis at Howard Academy Community Center. Davis is shown with great granddaugher Jaela Moore,5.

Andy Fillmore/Correspondent

Davis was honored Saturday on his 100th birthday during an event attended by more than 300 people.

“Grandfather Davis taught me how to be a man, to have a good wife and treat her with respect,” Honor, 32, said as he waited to have a photo taken with his grandfather, along with his wife, Aurora, and their son, Xaivier, 6.

Davis, a Marion County native, also was recognized for his devotion to his 11 children, 30 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren, and his service to his friends and community during the gathering at Howard Academy Community Center.

All the children were raised at the home Davis built himself about 79 years ago in northeast Marion County, according to Gracelyn Honor. The home recently was moved to accommodate the widening of Baseline Road, she said.

Roland Davis traveled from Seattle, Wash., and granddaughter Carmen Williams came from Brentwood, Calif., to join the celebration. Elijah Davis' first great-grandchild, and the recipient of the Elizabeth I. Davis Scholarship, Kymberly Cloud, 37, also attended. Cloud, who has a bachelor's degree in journalism, has been involved in producing the annual Oscar presentations show.

Family members described Elijah Davis as a devoted Christian, hard worker, strict disciplinarian, pianist and musician, and “the eldest deacon at House of God Church.”

Davis said “faith and family” were what sustained him during his century of living.

“I remember my father mainly on his knees praying,” said Maxey.

Hunter-Pate recalled her dad “working in the fields and holding church service in our home. We are a close-knit family.”

“Dad used to comb my hair. Dad took us to our activities after school, and he was a hard worker,” Jackson said.

“We were told we had to stay in school. My mother, who wrote poetry and did prison ministry at Lowell, worked as a nurse, an educator, and retired with the Marion County schools' custodial service. My dad was maintenance manager at the Fairways Motel. They told us they wanted us to have a better life. All 11 of us have college degrees or ratings, and four are teachers,” Gracelyn Honor said.